System and method to implement concurrent orthogonal channels in an ultra-wide band wireless communications network

Abstract

A system and method for media access control are disclosed. The method comprises providing concurrent orthogonal channels to access media using pulse division multiple access to define pulse positions, wherein the pulse division multiple access includes a time hopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels. In addition, the method comprises processing signals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels.

1. A media access control method, comprising:
 providing concurrent orthogonal channels to access media using pulse division multiple access, wherein the pulse division multiple access includes a time hopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; 
 transmitting on a first one of the channels at first pulse positions specified by the time hopping sequence, each of the first pulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetition interval and each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the same number of pulse positions; 
 transmitting on a second one of the channels at second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positions from the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the number of pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and 
 processing signals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concurrent orthogonal channels are ultra-wide band channels that support pulses that have a relatively short length and a relatively wide bandwidth. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the relatively short length has a range of about 1 ps (picosecond) to about 1 μs (microsecond). 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending pulses on one of the concurrent orthogonal channels at defined pulse positions associated with that concurrent orthogonal channel. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offset is based on a number of supported concurrent orthogonal channels. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 defining pulse positions based on the time hopping sequence and the offset. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the pulse positions are further defined based on a number of time hopping slots. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offset comprises a static scalar value. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offset comprises a value that changes over time. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offset comprises a non-scalar value. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time hopping sequence is defined based on at least one of the group consisting of: a transmitter address, a receiver address, a channel identifier, a sequence number, and a security key. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein during a first one of the pulse repetition intervals, a first one of the first pulse positions occurs prior to a first one of the second pulse positions and during a second one of the pulse repetition intervals, a second one of the first pulse positions occurs after a second one of the second pulse positions. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for providing media access control, comprising:
 a media access controller adapted to provide access via media access control that supports concurrent orthogonal channels using pulse division multiple access to define pulse positions, wherein the pulse division multiple access includes a time hopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; 
 a transmitter configured to:
 transmit on a first one of the channels at first pulse positions specified by the time hopping sequence, each of the first pulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetition interval and each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the same number of pulse positions; and 
 transmit on a second one of the channels at second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positions from the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the number of pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and 
 
 a signal processor operatively coupled to the media access controller, and adapted to process signals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the concurrent orthogonal channels are ultra-wide band channels that support pulses that have a relatively short length and a relatively wide bandwidth. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the relatively short length has a range of about 1 ps (picosecond) to about 1 μs (microsecond). 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein pulses are sent on one of the concurrent orthogonal channels at defined pulse positions associated with that concurrent orthogonal channel. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the offset is based on a number of supported concurrent orthogonal channels. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the pulse positions are defined based on the time hopping sequence and the offset. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the pulse positions are defined based on the time hopping sequence, the offset, and a number of time hopping slots. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the offset comprises a static scalar value. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the offset comprises a value that changes over time. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the offset is a non-scalar value. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the time hopping sequence is defined based on at least one of the group consisting of: a transmitter address, a receiver address, a channel identifier, a sequence number, and a security key. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus for providing media access control, comprising:
 means for providing access via media access control that supports concurrent orthogonal channels using pulse division multiple access to define pulse positions, wherein the pulse division multiple access includes a time hopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; 
 means for transmitting on a first one of the channels at first pulse positions specified by the time hopping sequence, each of the first pulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetition interval and each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the same number of pulse positions; 
 means for transmitting on a second one of the channels at second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positions from the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the number of pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and 
 means for processing signals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels. 
 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the concurrent orthogonal channels are ultra-wide band channels that support pulses that have a relatively short length and a relatively wide bandwidth. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the relatively short length has a range of about 1 ps (picosecond) to about 1 μs (microsecond). 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the offset is based on a number of supported concurrent orthogonal channels. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the pulse positions are defined based on the time hopping sequence and the offset. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the pulse positions are defined based on the time hopping sequence, the offset, and a number of time hopping slots. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the offset comprises a static scalar value. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the offset comprises a value that changes over time. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the offset is a non-scalar value. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the time hopping sequence is defined based on at least one of the group consisting of: a transmitter address, a receiver address, a channel identifier, a sequence number, and a security key. 
     
     
       34. A headset, comprising:
 a media access controller adapted to provide access via media access control that supports concurrent orthogonal channels using pulse division multiple access that includes a time hopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; 
 a transmitter configured to:
 transmit on a first one of the channels at first pulse positions specified by the time hopping sequence, each of the first pulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetition interval and each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the same number of pulse positions; and 
 transmit on a second one of the channels at second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positions from the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the number of pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and 
 
 a signal processor operatively coupled to the media access controller, and adapted to process signals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels; and 
 a transducer adapted to generate sound represented by the processed signals. 
 
     
     
       35. A watch, comprising:
 a media access controller adapted to provide access via media access control that supports concurrent orthogonal channels using pulse division multiple access that includes a time hopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; 
 a transmitter configured to:
 transmit on a first one of the channels at first pulse positions specified by the time hopping sequence, each of the first pulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetition interval and each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the same number of pulse positions; and 
 transmit on a second one of the channels at second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positions from the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the number of pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and 
 
 a signal processor operatively coupled to the media access controller, and adapted to process signals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels; and 
 a user interface adapted to generate an indication based on data represented by the processed signals. 
 
     
     
       36. A sensing device, comprising:
 a media access controller adapted to provide access via media access control that supports concurrent orthogonal channels using pulse division multiple access that includes a time hopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; 
 a transmitter configured to:
 transmit on a first one of the channels at first pulse positions specified by the time hopping sequence, each of the first pulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetition interval and each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the same number of pulse positions; and 
 transmit on a second one of the channels at second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positions from the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the number of pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and 
 
 a signal processor operatively coupled to the media access controller, and adapted to process signals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels; and 
 a sensor adapted to generate signals based on sensed data. 
 
     
     
       37. A media access control computer-program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium encoded with instructions executable to: 
 provide access via media access control that supports concurrent orthogonal channels using pulse division multiple access that includes a time hopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; 
 transmit on a first one of the channels at first pulse positions specified by the time hopping sequence, each of the first pulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetition interval and each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the same number of pulse positions; 
 transmit on a second one of the channels at second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positions from the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the number of pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and 
 process signals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels.